Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has declared that he has the capacity to wipe out banditry within two months if granted direct control of security agencies operating in the state.
In a viral video released on Wednesday, the governor broke down in tears while recounting the scale of devastation caused by recent attacks. He lamented that the biggest obstacle to ending the crisis is the centralised command system, which requires security operatives to take orders from Abuja rather than the state government.
“I can tell you the whereabouts of every bandit kingpin in Zamfara, even with my phone. I can point to you where they are right now. But I do not control security agencies, and that is the problem,” Lawal said.
He cited a recent attack in Shinkafi Local Government Area, where dozens were killed, alleging that security forces on the ground failed to act because they lacked clearance from their headquarters. “People were under attack, and I kept calling the security agencies. They told me they were waiting for orders from Abuja. How do I save my people in such a situation?” he asked.
Despite limited powers, the governor said his administration had distributed 150 patrol vehicles to police, military, DSS and civil defence, in addition to recruiting thousands of Community Protection Guards and hunters from Borno and Yobe states to reinforce the fight. He added that his government was also working to address root causes of violence through the provision of water, schools, and other social amenities.
Lawal accused political opponents of exploiting the crisis for selfish gain, warning that such actions were undermining efforts to restore peace. He also criticised the heavy deployment of security during a recent by-election, arguing that resources were being prioritised for politics rather than the protection of lives.
Zamfara is one of the states worst affected by armed banditry in Nigeria’s North-West, where heavily armed groups rooted in cattle-rustling have expanded into networks that carry out mass abductions, killings, and attacks on farming communities. The state has witnessed high-profile tragedies, including the abduction of about 300 schoolgirls from Jangebe in 2021.
Governor Lawal’s remarks come as President Bola Tinubu and the National Economic Council weigh the creation of state police, a reform long demanded by governors in violence-hit states. While proponents argue that state police would strengthen local responses to insecurity, critics warn of potential abuse by politicians.
For many in Zamfara, where villages are being emptied and farming abandoned due to attacks, the governor’s claim that he could eliminate banditry in two months if empowered is both a pledge of hope and a reminder of the limits of Nigeria’s centralised security system.
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